Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
was held on Tuesday, October 19, 2010, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028,
at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Royce West

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Jeff Wentworth

None

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. The
following business was transacted:

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #1, study
current law governing homeowners associations with respect to ensuring that
homeowners are given adequate protections against unfair foreclosures and are
given proper channels for redress in case of foreclosure.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #1. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

At 8:35 a.m., a quorum was established.

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the
previous hearing held on May 13, 2010. Without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #2, monitor the
proliferation of municipal utility districts (MUDs) outside the corporate
limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of municipalities and whether increased
oversight of these districts by other political subdivisions is needed. Review
the process for the creation of municipal utility districts (MUDs) through the
template developed during the 81st Legislative Session, including any changes
needed to increase the efficiency and oversight over the creation of proposed
districts. Review the process for creating special districts, including
whether the creation of a template, similar to the one created for municipal
utility districts (MUDs), is feasible and would enable the legislature to more
effectively evaluate other proposed special districts during future Sessions.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #2. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #3, review the
process and costs for local governments to make government information
available online. consider ways to encourage local governments to provide more
transparency, including the Comptroller's experience with transparency and her
offer to assist local governments, and consider penalties for entities that
fail to comply with the online requirement.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #3. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #4, Assess ways
to facilitate property ownership registration to better enable individuals to
participate in federal programs and make recommendations to improve processing
times to provide improved access to funds.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #4. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #5, study the
reasons for and the impacts of hospitals directly hiring physicians. Examine
practices in other states. make recommendations, if needed, to permit
hospitals to directly hire physicians.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #5. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #6, review state
and local policies related to development and growth in rural and
unincorporated regions of the state with regard to annexation and zoning
authority. Focus on impacts to private property rights. Determine the
appropriateness of existing extraterritorial jurisdiction authority. Make
recommendations regarding possible changes to this authority.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #6. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #7, review the
types of support state government can provide to assist local government
consolidations with county governments. Evaluate budget implications for city
and county government consolidations. Research the appropriateness and cost
savings of eliminating duplicity between city and county governments in
different regions of the state.

At 10:50 a.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair.

At 10:55 a.m., Senator West resumed the Chair.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #7. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #8, review the
statutory authority granted to municipal management districts (MMDs) and to
emergency service districts (ESDs), the authority of municipalities and
counties to create public improvement districts (PIDs). Determine whether the
authority granted for each entity is adequate to accomplish the goals of local
governments. Assess whether the consolidation of ESDs under one statute would
improve uniformity and provision of fire and emergency services through these
districts.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #8. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

The Chair laid out interim
committee charge #9, Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the
Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, 81st Legislature, Regular and
Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to
improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.

·Monitor the use of the expanded funds provided by the 81st
Legislature to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited
testimony on interim committee charge #8. See attached witness list. There
was no public testimony on this interim committee charge.

At 11:23 a.m., Senator West moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. Without
objection, it was so ordered.